MONITORING, EVALUATION, RESEARCH AND LEARNING (MERL) ADVISOR

TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR HIRE

MONITORING, EVALUATION, RESEARCH AND LEARNING (MERL) ADVISOR

GENERAL DATA

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PROGRAM:

VENGOAL is seeking applications for the position of Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) Advisor for a project focused on providing technical assistance (TA) and direct service delivery to break through barriers to 95-95-95 and promote self-reliant HIV prevention, care, and treatment services to key and vulnerable populations in selected geographic areas.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ROLE:

The Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) Advisor will oversee the design and implementation of all Strategic Information strategies and interventions for the project to ensure accurate documentation of HIV prevention, care, and treatment services to key and vulnerable populations, under the oversight of the Project Director (PD). The MERL Advisor will also support efforts to strengthen partner MERL activities, and performance reporting across the country, which may include working with program sub-partners and key stakeholders to monitor, document and analyse the performance of their HIV services and activities and ensure data quality. 

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES/FUNCTIONS

• Provide Strategic Information leadership at project level in the areas of HIV prevention, care and treatment to implement high quality activities including HIV testing services (HTS), linkage to and initiation of antiretroviral treatment (ART), pre-exposure prophylaxis (PreP), prevention and response to gender-based violence.
• Provide technical leadership in design, development, planning, implementation, and capacity building for staff in data collection, analysis, visualization, dissemination, and use of data from different sources.
• Ensure that MERL systems and project implementation adhere to the appropriate global strategy and remain technically sound.
• Support the analysis and use of data from routine information systems and special surveys to influence the design and scope of projects.
• Review, analyze and evaluate the effectiveness of projects and make recommendations for enhancements.
• Ensure that project data are appropriately displayed in dashboards using various graphics and geo-spatial displays.
• Conduct routine monitoring visits to project sites, conduct data quality assessments (DQAs) using official tools, assist in the preparation of weekly and monthly reports, and provide supportive supervision at sites
• Work closely with the Management Information System (MIS) team to assist in the development and maintenance of computerized data capture of the program and provide technical assistance and training to the staff at the sites responsible for data entry;
• Enhance or develop MERL systems across sites to monitor service delivery and performance in real-time to plan services more effectively and to meet reporting requirements.
• Build the MERL capacity of local organizations and other stakeholders on data collection and data management of comprehensive HIV services.
• Ensure program data are tracked, verified, and supporting documentation is maintained and reported.
• Promote a data-driven programming and build capacity of project sub-recipients on data use for decision making.
• Monitor and ensure that the project meets the targets, the project work plan’s deliverables, and ensures all activities are conducted in alignment with project standards, protocols, and policies.
• Liaise with the Project Director on program management and technical advisor on technical strategies and data use.
• Oversee the development of all regular and ad hoc technical reports and other deliverables.
• Represent the project with external audiences and at conferences and other forum, as needed.

MINIMUM REQUIRED PROFILE

Professional Studies /Education:

• Master’s degree or its equivalent in public health, epidemiology, social work, monitoring & evaluation, demography, biostatistics, statistics, analytics, or other relevant discipline.

Professional experience:

• Minimum of 8 to 10 years working on designing, establishing, and managing monitoring and evaluation systems, ensuring data quality, and analyzing data to support performance improvement of HIV programs.
• Experience working on M&E of community-based key populations programs.
• Demonstrated expertise in data analysis, managing online databases to ensure easy access to data and data reports, experience in Tableau or Power BI.
• Demonstrated ability to perform complex data analytics utilizing Microsoft Excel, STATA, Epi Info; and/or software.
• Demonstrated ability to perform complex data analyses and make recommendations based on findings.
• Sound cultural understanding and sensitivity to demands of key and vulnerable populations, and an understanding of gender and sexual diversity.
• In-depth familiarity with national public health sector and donor-funded programs.
• Previous experience working with HIV program and organizations working with key and vulnerable populations.
• Demonstrated working knowledge on monitoring and evaluation processes and reporting; ability to perform complex data analyses and make recommendations based on findings.
• Previous experience in building capacity of local organizations and stakeholders.

Knowledge/skills:

• Demonstrated written, presentation, communication and organizational skills in English and Spanish.

Preferred:

Travel requirements: 50%

• The position will be based in the VENGOAL HQ office.
• This is a local position for nationals only.
• Suitably qualified candidates openly living with HIV and/or who are representative of the key and vulnerable populations affected by HIV are also actively encouraged to apply.

SAFEGUARDING

Vulnerable children and adults must be protected to the greatest extent possible from deliberate or inadvertent actions and failures that put them at risk of abuse, sexual exploitation, injury and any other harm. One of the ways VENGOAL shows this ongoing commitment to safeguarding is by including rigorous background and reference checks in the selection process for all candidates.

ACCOUNTABILITY WITHIN VENGOAL

Along with our safeguarding policy, VENGOAL is an equal opportunity employer and has a set of integrity policies. Any candidate offered a job with VENGOAL will be expected to adhere to the following key areas of responsibility:

• Comply with VENGOAL policies and procedures regarding safeguarding, Code of Conduct, health and safety, data protection and confidentiality, do no harm principles and unacceptable behavior protocols.
• Report any concern about the well-being of a vulnerable child or adult, or any irregularity within our programming area.
• Report any concerns about inappropriate behavior by a VENGOAL staff or partner.

HOW TO APPLY?

Interested parties must access the following link to upload their updated CV (must include their email and current telephone number) and the Letter of Expression of Interest.

Link: https://boards.greenhouse.io/goalhonduras/jobs/5943607

Note: This job description only serves as a guide to the position available. VENGOAL reserves the right to modify this document. Published closing dates are estimated. Due to the nature of VENGOAL's work, we aim to fill vacancies as quickly as possible. This means that we will close adverts as soon as we find the right candidate and this may be before the published closing date. Therefore, we encourage interested applicants to submit an application as soon as possible.